LONDON (AFP) – 01 February 2011

Chelsea signed Spain striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool on Monday in a 50 million pounds (80 million dollars) deal that shattered the British transfer record.

Torres has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Premier League champions, who announced the deal on their website 35 minutes after the official close of the January transfer window.

"Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Fernando Torres on a five-and-a-half year contract," a statement on the Blues' website announced.

AFP/File – Chelsea signed Spain striker

Fernando Torres, pictured in 2010,

from Liverpool on Monday in a £50 mln …

The 26-year-old's transfer smashed the previous British record set less than an hour earlier when Liverpool paid Newcastle 35 million pounds (56 million dollars) to sign England striker Andy Carroll as Torres's replacement.

Although Torres is unlikely to feature in Chelsea's Premier League match at Sunderland on Tuesday, the forward could make his debut against Liverpool of all teams at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Torres, who has won the World Cup and European Championships with Spain, had asked to leave Liverpool on Friday when news of Chelsea's first bid for the striker became public knowledge.

Liverpool rejected that request, but Blues owner Roman Abramovich was determined to sign the former Atletico Madrid star and the Anfield club eventually accepted Chelsea's huge offer after securing Carroll's signature.

Torres, who scored seven times in seven appearances against Chelsea, was keen to leave Liverpool after the club slumped out of the Champions League last season and then struggled in the first half of this campaign.

"I am very happy with my transfer to Chelsea and I am looking forward very much to helping my new team-mates this season and for many years to come," Torres told Chelsea's website.

"Having played against Chelsea many times since coming to England, and in some very big games I will never forget, I know there are many great players here and I will work hard to win a place in the team.

"I hope I can score some important goals for the supporters to enjoy this season."

Torres scored 65 goals in 102 league appearances for Liverpool and 81 in 142 games in all competitions.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck added: "This is a very significant day for Chelsea, capturing one of the best players in the world with his peak years ahead of him.

"We have long admired the talents of a player who is a proven goalscorer in English football and Fernando's arrival is a sign of our continuing high ambitions."

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti must now decide whether to use Torres, who had joined Liverpool from Atletico in 2007, as a partner for Didier Drogba, which would require a change from the team's usual 4-3-3 formation.

Regardless of how Torres fits into Ancelotti's tactics, his signing is a significant statement of intent to Chelsea's Premier League rivals.

A miserable run of results before Christmas has left Chelsea in fourth place, trailing 10 points behind leaders Manchester United.

But bringing in a proven world star like Torres shows that Abramovich is still determined to keep Chelsea on top of the pile.

His signing will help with the team's push to finish in the top four and could even spark a late title charge.

"Signing a player of the stature of Fernando Torres benefits the club on many levels," chief executive Ron Gourlay said.

"Carlo Ancelotti was keen to add his talents to the squad as we continue our quest for three trophies this season, we are delighted we have succeeded with that wish, and this signing will undoubtedly aid the club in realising our worldwide potential."{jcomments on}